Rogue River Man Suspect in Heroin Bust

Police say 47-year-old Thomas Walter Anderson had three ounces of heroin, 17 guns, ten thousand dollars in cash, and body armor at his Rogue River home.

A man police call a documented Nazi Low-Rider Prison gang member.

"A person that has this kind of armor and body armor which is even crazier and the sophistication," says Medford Police Chief Tim George.

Swat Team members and the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement served a search warrant Wednesday morning at the home on River Road.

"This was familiar territory."

Chief George says Anderson was arrested on similar charges back in January but made bail and Chief George claims he was not deterred but kept selling drugs not just in Rogue River but throughout the area.

"This is a person selling dope to people everyday."

Police also arrested Benjamin Andrew Chmelir at the home on charges of violating parole and theft.

They say he was living on a boat on Anderson's property.

"It's just about the safety of the community when you do this type of work."

Anderson is now facing dozens of charges including possession and distribution of heroin and 17 counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Chief George says heroin continues to be a major problem in Southern Oregon with people overdosing in Medford alone on a weekly basis.

According to Oregon State Police heroin is the number one killer when it comes to drugs. In 2012 it took 147 lives a three percent increase from 2011.

Just last year two young men in Ashland died within weeks of each other. Both of suspected drug overdoses most likely mixed with heroin.

Chief George says that's why getting suspected drug dealers like Thomas Anderson off the streets is so crucial.

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